http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...0666609.htm?1c
Posted on Mon, Jan. 17, 2005
Las Vegas Weatherman Fired for MLK Slur
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS - A television weatherman was fired after referring to slain
civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. as "Martin Luther Coon
King" on the air, station officials said.
Rob Blair, of KTNV-TV, was delivering the extended forecast Saturday
morning when he said: "Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some
temperatures in the mid-60s."
Jim Prather, vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate,
said Blair stumbled when he uttered the remark, but the excuse was not
enough to save his job.
"This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and
I'm truly sorry that this event occurred," Prather said.
Blair, who worked at the station for about three months, apologized
during the station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts Saturday.
"I in no way intended to offend anyone," he said in the apology. "I'm
very sorry."
Weatherman Fired for Slur
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